COLUMBUS, Ohio — In a move aimed at bolstering local law enforcement recruitment and flexibility, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 44 into law Wednesday, ushering in key reforms to Ohio’s police training and hiring standards. The legislation, passed by the 136th General Assembly, empowers cities to establish their own in-house training academies for aspiring officers, exempts participants in these programs from state classified civil service requirements, and streamlines waiver options for new police chiefs’ mandatory training.
The bill addresses longstanding concerns about officer shortages and bureaucratic hurdles in smaller municipalities, where competitive state exams and centralized training can delay hiring.
Local Academies: A New Path for Officer Training…